Recap from 3.24.20 and 3.25.20 City Council Meetings
Here are the videos from the meetings
3.24.20 Part 1
3.24.20 Part 2
3.25.20
Here are a few of the main items the Birmingham City Council discussed at the March 24th and March 25th, 2020 Meetings
Item 1 (March 24th)
After a Public Hearing, the Birmingham City Council approved a rezoning case in the Echo Highlands Neighborhood in District 1 that would allow for the construction of a new funeral home.
Some background information on the proposed rezoning:
The Zoning Advisory Committee met at its regularly scheduled meeting on October 15th, 2019 to review the applicant’s rezoning request and voted to Not Recommend approval.
The Planning & Zoning Committee met on October 23rd, 2019 and voted on a 2 month continuance so the applicant could go back to the Neighborhood Association.
The Planning & Zoning Committee met on December 4th, 2019 and voted to recommend approval of the applicant’s request with the following “Q” conditions:
The following uses are not allowed:
a) Communal Living Facility
b) Garage Sale/Yard Sale
c) Private Club
d) Rummage Sale
e) Opioid Replacement Therapy Treatment Facility
f) Animal Boarding Facility
g) Animal Day Care
h) Automobile Parking
i) Automobile Sales
j) Automobile Service
k) Automobile/Light Truck repair
l) Bar
m) Car Wash. Automated
n) Car Wash, Manual
o) Donation Box
p) Donation Center
q) Mini Storage Warehouse
r) Payday Loan
s) Recreation Equipment Sales/Service
t) Title Loan/Pawnshop
u) All Wireless Communication Uses
v) Manufacturing, Specialized
w) Warehouse/Office
x) All Agricultural Uses
y) All Utility Uses
z) Recycling Collection Center
aa) Adult Establishment
bb) Arena
cc) Amusement, Outdoor
dd) Convention Center
ee) Driving Range Free-Standing
ff) Stadium
Item 91 (March 24th)
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that orders all residents in Birmingham to shelter in place, which will go into effect Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
As of March 23, 2020, Alabama has 196 identified cases of coronavirus, including 86 in Jefferson County. Because of the clear and present danger this virus presents to the community, “all persons shall remain in their places of residence and shall not be or remain in public places,” the ordinance reads.
The order does not apply to first responders, utilities contractors/employees, people seeking essential services such as groceries or medicine, federal, state, county or city employees. According to the ordinance, all nonessential businesses must comply with the new restrictions. However, it will not affect anyone’s ability to report to work at businesses that are permitted to remain open, utilize curbside pickup for restaurants, grocery stores, or go to medical appointments. The ordinance does not add any businesses to the list of nonessential businesses that have been ordered to close by the Jefferson County Department of Health.
There are also provisions within the public safety ordinance that allow for some exceptions. People may lawfully leave their homes while this ordinance is in effect to engage in the following activities: outdoor activities that do not involve physical contact with others (walking, biking, hiking), care for family member or pets, providing goods and services or work necessary to build, operate, maintain or manufacture essential infrastructure.
Failure to comply with this ordinance is punishable by the general penalty provided in Sec. 1–1–6 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham.
Councilor Hunter Williams, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said it is important for residents to shelter in place and limit social interactions. “We are in the middle of a global health crisis,” Williams said. “This was not an easy decision because we understand it will have an impact on our local economy. A lot of thought and consideration went into this decision by city leaders and health officials. We believe that these measures will help flatten the curve and avoid a situation where our hospitals are overburdened with patients who need treatment.”
This decision is the result of ongoing partnership between the Mayor’s administration, public health officials and the City Council.
The shelter-in-place order shall remain in effect until 12:00 p.m. on April 3, unless it is “determined that the emergency conditions no longer exist prior to that date but may be extended if the duration of the emergency conditions continue beyond that date,” according to the ordinance.
Item 1 (March 25th)
There was only one item on the agenda for the Special Called City Council meeting this morning.
The Birmingham City Council has approved $1.2 million in funding for the Birmingham Strong Fund, a small business emergency loan program.The Birmingham Business Resource Center will be tasked with administrating the funds.Businesses with under 50 employees will be able to apply for loans up to $25,000 — with the average being around $10,000 — in order to prevent staff reductions, offset loses due to COVID-19 and to sponsor sick leave for employees. The loans will have 180-day repayment terms with zero interest.Business owners will be required to complete a needs assessment form to provide data regarding their payroll deficiency, sick pay requests/pay and/or substantial revenue loss.
City leaders are currently working to secure matching funds from the private and civic sectors.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our city and we’re are committed to doing everything we can to help them stay afloat during this time of economic uncertainty,” President William Parker said. “The Council has been working hand in hand with the Mayor and his team to chart the best course of action. We believe this is major step in the right direction.” Small businesses that are interested in applying for the loan program can find those resources at: https://bhamstrong.com/
